
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, November 5, 1995                   TAG: 9511060130
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: D10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: RALEIGH, N.C.                                 LENGTH: Medium

EXPRESS GETS BACK ON TRACK

Jeff Jablonski and Chris Potter each notched a pair of goals and goaltender Matt DelGuidice remained undefeated as the Roanoke Express defeated the Raleigh IceCaps 6-3 in an East Coast Hockey League game Saturday night.

The win avenged Friday's 5-2 loss to the IceCaps in Roanoke, when the Express lost despite allowing a franchise-low 16 shots on goal.

Roanoke fell behind again on Saturday, but rallied. With the score tied 2-2 early in the third period, Jablonski converted a rebound of a Michael Smith wrist shot past Raleigh goaltender Chad Lang at 4:25 for a 3-2 lead. Jablonski, who earlier in the third period had a goal waved off as the IceCaps net came off its moorings, added his second goal of the period five minutes later. After corralling a Smith outlet pass along the left wing, Jablonski swept wide around the Raleigh defense and uncorked a 35-foot slapshot over Lang's glove for a 4-2 Roanoke lead at 7:35.

Express newcomer Louis Charbonneau scored his first goal as a professional just 34 seconds later for a 5-2 lead. Jeff Jestadt's right wing shot was denied by Lang, but with the Raleigh goalie well out of his crease, Charbonneau, converted the rebound from in front of the net at 10:09 of the third period.

Raleigh's Rob Pattison, who had tied the score 2-2 early in the third period, added a late power-play goal, but Roanoke's Craig Herr iced the victory with an empty-net goal with just 15 seconds remaining.

Raleigh (1-7-1) opened the scoring on a power play blast by Lyle Wildgoose, from the top of the right circle past DelGuidice on the stick side, just 1:21 into the game with Roanoke's Jason Clarke off for hooking just 35 seconds into the game.

Potter tied the score on a terrific individual effort up the left wing, first by controlling Paul Croteau's outlet pass at the red line, and then sweeping in on Lang from his off wing and quickly adjusting to his forehand on the short side before lifting the puck over Lang's glove at 12:49.

Potter scored the only goal of the second period at 7:07, by using Ilya Dubkov as a decoy on a two-on-one break and rifling a quick wrist shot from the left circle past Lang low on the stick side.

The Express (6-5-0) remain undefeated in games after losses (5-0) and improved to 4-3 on the road. Raleigh (1-7-1), remains winless at home (0-2) on the season.

ICE CHIPS: Express head coach Frank Anzalone benched defenseman Jon Larson, center Marty Schriner and winger Mike Stacchi, all of whom remained in Roanoke and did not make the trip ... Charbonneau will wear number 16 for the Express ... Roanoke is 6-0-0 in games started by DelGuidice this season. ... The civic center will be open today for public skating from 1-3 p.m. Admission is $4, skate rental is $2. The civic center plans to have public skating on eight other Sundays through March - Nov. 12 and 19; Dec. 3 and 10; Jan. 14 and 28; and March 10 and 24. The schedule is subject to change.

by CNB